Competitors Look To Inspire At ISKA U.S. Open

Some of the greatest competitors in karate have descended to Orlando, Florida, for the 2018 ISKA U.S Open.

Beginning on July 5th. the event will span three days and feature individual and group competitors looking to win their division’s title.

Tyler Weaver Jr, has returned to Orlando with the goal of spreading this sport to the masses.

“I want to put on a show that gets everyone standing,” claimed the 44 time champion, nine of which coming from ISKA competitions. “I want to get others interested in doing this sport.”

The ability in inspire others is the main goal for many of the participants in this year’s event, especially for Allen Davies.

As a cancer survivor, Davies wants to focus on “staying positive,” not only for himself but for others. “I want people to look at me and say ‘I want to be like that!'” Davies told FIGHT SPORTS this week in Orlando.

While she may only be in her early 20’s, 57 time world champion McKenzie Emery is looking towards the future in Orlando.

Emery, who took the 2017 honors for the 18+ Woman’s forms, told FIGHT SPORTS that “besides winning a title, I want to inspire the next generation.”

For the world of competitive Karate and martial arts, it starts at a young age, with most competitors beginning when they’re barely out of the first grade. Caitlin Dechelle, who started at the age of six, has taken her life from karate to the movies, acting as Gal Gadot’s stunt woman during the filming of Wonder Woman. Even though she travels the world working on major motion pictures and Television shows, the sport of karate still is what gets her out of bed every day.

“I live to train students,” Dechelle said on Thursday.

“It gives me the opportunity to show others what I’ve learned, and lets me do what I still love to do.